the garden party(园会)-第36节
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have the pleasure？〃 He ducked and smiled。 There came a dark man
wearing an eyeglass； then cousin Laurie with a friend； and Laura with a
little freckled fellow whose tie was crooked。 Then quite an old manfat；
with a big bald patch on his head took her programme and murmured；
〃Let me see； let me see！〃 And he was a long time comparing his
programme； which looked black with names； with hers。 It seemed to
give him so much trouble that Leila was ashamed。 〃Oh； please don't
bother；〃 she said eagerly。 But instead of replying the fat man wrote
something； glanced at her again。 〃Do I remember this bright little face？〃
he said softly。 〃Is it known to me of yore？〃 At that moment the band
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began playing； the fat man disappeared。 He was tossed away on a great
wave of music that came flying over the gleaming floor； breaking the
groups up into couples； scattering them； sending them spinning。。。
Leila had learned to dance at boarding school。 Every Saturday
afternoon the boarders were hurried off to a little corrugated iron mission
hall where Miss Eccles （of London） held her 〃select〃 classes。 But the
difference between that dusty…smelling hallwith calico texts on the walls；
the poor terrified little woman in a brown velvet toque with rabbit's ears
thumping the cold piano； Miss Eccles poking the girls' feet with her long
white wandand this was so tremendous that Leila was sure if her partner
didn't come and she had to listen to that marvellous music and to watch
the others sliding； gliding over the golden floor； she would die at least； or
faint； or lift her arms and fly out of one of those dark windows that
showed the stars。
〃Ours； I think〃 Some one bowed； smiled； and offered her his arm；
she hadn't to die after all。 Some one's hand pressed her waist； and she
floated away like a flower that is tossed into a pool。
〃Quite a good floor； isn't it？〃 drawled a faint voice close to her ear。
〃I think it's most beautifully slippery；〃 said Leila。
〃Pardon！〃 The faint voice sounded surprised。 Leila said it again。
And there was a tiny pause before the voice echoed； 〃Oh； quite！〃 and she
was swung round again。
He steered so beautifully。 That was the great difference between
dancing with girls and men； Leila decided。 Girls banged into each other；
and stamped on each other's feet； the girl who was gentleman always
clutched you so。
The azaleas were separate flowers no longer； they were pink and white
flags streaming by。
〃Were you at the Bells' last week？〃 the voice came again。 It sounded
tired。 Leila wondered whether she ought to ask him if he would like to
stop。
〃No； this is my first dance；〃 said she。
Her partner gave a little gasping laugh。 〃Oh； I say；〃 he protested。
〃Yes； it is really the first dance I've ever been to。〃 Leila was most
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fervent。 It was such a relief to be able to tell somebody。 〃You see； I've
lived in the country all my life up till now。。。〃
At that moment the music stopped； and they went to sit on two chairs
against the wall。 Leila tucked her pink satin feet under and fanned
herself； while she blissfully watched the other couples passing and
disappearing through the swing doors。
〃Enjoying yourself； Leila？〃 asked Jose； nodding her golden head。
Laura passed and gave her the faintest little wink； it made Leila
wonder for a moment whether she was quite grown up after all。
Certainly her partner did not say very much。 He coughed； tucked his
handkerchief away； pulled down his waistcoat； took a minute thread off his
sleeve。 But it didn't matter。 Almost immediately the band started and
her second partner seemed to spring from the ceiling。
〃Floor's not bad；〃 said the new voice。 Did one always begin with the
floor？ And then； 〃Were you at the Neaves' on Tuesday？〃 And again
Leila explained。 Perhaps it was a little strange that her partners were not
more interested。 For it was thrilling。 Her first ball！ She was only at
the beginning of everything。 It seemed to her that she had never known
what the night was like before。 Up till now it had been dark； silent；
beautiful very oftenoh yesbut mournful somehow。 Solemn。 And
now it would never be like that againit had opened dazzling bright。
〃Care for an ice？〃 said her partner。 And they went through the swing
doors； down the passage； to the supper room。 Her cheeks burned； she
was fearfully thirsty。 How sweet the ices looked on little glass plates and
how cold the frosted spoon was； iced too！ And when they came back to
the hall there was the fat man waiting for her by the door。 It gave her
quite a shock again to see how old he was； he ought to have been on the
stage with the fathers and mothers。 And when Leila compared him with
her other partners he looked shabby。 His waistcoat was creased； there
was a button off his glove； his coat looked as if it was dusty with French
chalk。
〃Come along； little lady；〃 said the fat man。 He scarcely troubled to
clasp her； and they moved away so gently； it was more like walking than
dancing。 But he said not a word about the floor。 〃Your first dance； isn't
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it？〃 he murmured。
〃How did you know？〃
〃Ah；〃 said the fat man； 〃that's what it is to be old！〃 He wheezed
faintly as he steered her past an awkward couple。 〃You see； I've been
doing this kind of thing for the last thirty years。〃
〃Thirty years？〃 cried Leila。 Twelve years before she was born！
〃It hardly bears thinking about； does it？〃 said the fat man gloomily。
Leila looked at his bald head； and she felt quite sorry for him。
〃I think it's marvellous to be still going on；〃 she said kindly。
〃Kind little lady；〃 said the fat man； and he pressed her a little closer；
and hummed a bar of the waltz。 〃Of course；〃 he said； 〃you can't hope to
last anything like as long as that。 No…o；〃 said the fat man； 〃long before
that you'll be sitting up there on the stage； looking on； in your nice black
velvet。 And these pretty arms will have turned into little short fat ones；
and you'll beat time with such a different kind of fana black bony one。〃
The fat man seemed to shudder。 〃And you'll smile away like the poor old
dears up there； and point to your daughter； and tell the elderly lady next to
you how some dreadful man tried to kiss her at the club ball。 And your
heart will ache； ache〃the fat man squeezed her closer still； as if he really
was sorry for that poor heart〃because no one wants to kiss you now。
And you'll say how unpleasant these polished floors are to walk on； how
dangerous they are。 Eh； Mademoiselle Twinkletoes？〃 said the fat man
softly。
Leila gave a light little laugh； but she did not feel like laughing。 Was
itcould it all be true？ It sounded terribly true。 Was this first ball only
the beginning of her last ball； after all？ At that the music seemed to
change； it sounded sad； sad； it rose upon a great sigh。 Oh； how quickly
things changed！ Why didn't happiness last for ever？ For ever wasn't a
bit too long。
〃I want to stop；〃 she said in a breathless voice。 The fat man led her to
the door。
〃No；〃 she said； 〃I won't go outside。 I won't sit down。 I'll just stand
here； thank you。〃 She leaned against the wall； tapping with her foot；
pulling up her gloves and trying to smile。 But deep inside her a little girl
